The invention generally relates to a low-voltage power breaker having an electronic overcurrent release and having tripping magnets. Preferably, when the overcurrent release or a special signal causes the closed switching contacts to be released, the tripping magnets trip a latch. The overcurrent release and the tripping magnets may be fit together to form one protective module.
A power breaker has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,161. This power breaker has a known compact design having a molded case and a toggle lever drive (MCCB). In order to make it possible to replace or refit modules of the tripping magnets, access can be gained to said tripping magnets via the front control panel of the power breaker once a cover has been removed. The electronic overcurrent release does not have its own control panel owing to the compact design of the power breaker. Another feature of the design of compact power breakers is the fact that the operator can detect a tripping procedure not by means of a special display element but by means of a specific position of the outer handle of the toggle lever drive. The resetting required for reconnection of the power breaker also takes place by means of the handle of the toggle lever drive.
Electronic overcurrent releases and tripping magnets are correspondingly used in the same manner in low-voltage power breakers of open design (PCBs) which are distinguished from the design with the toggle lever drive by their suitability for higher rated currents and by their higher switching capacity as well as by a storage drive. The overcurrent releases of these power breakers also make it possible to set all the important parameters in order to be able to match the protective action of the power breaker, for example, to the properties of a load. For this purpose, the overcurrent releases are provided with their own front control panel which is included in the control panel of the power breaker and at which access can be gained to the setting elements. Resetting, following tripping, takes place in this case by means of a special element which is arranged in the vicinity of the front control panel of the overcurrent release (Catalog 3WN6, 1995, page 2, Siemens Publication E20002-K1801-B401-A1).
An embodiment of the invention may be based on an object, in a power breaker, of accommodating tripping magnets in a space-saving manner. Preferably, their display and reset elements are arranged on the front control panel of the power breaker such that they can be seen.
An object may be achieved according to an embodiment of the invention by the electronic overcurrent release having, in a manner known per se, a front control panel which is accessible via a control panel of the power breaker, and/or by the tripping magnets being fit to the overcurrent release on the side of a housing of the latter that is remote from the front control panel.
Using an arrangement which is the opposite of that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,161, mentioned initially,—tripping magnets underneath or behind the electronic overcurrent release—the user may operate the electronic overcurrent release in the same manner whilst retaining the advantage of the combined design of the two assemblies. On the other hand, the display and operating elements of the tripping magnets are now part of the front control panel of the overcurrent release, which improves clarity and thus operational reliability. An important factor here is the fact that the combination of all of the tripping magnets provided to form a assembly fit to the overcurrent release accordingly also makes two, or even more, display and reset elements visible and accessible to the operator on the front control panel of the overcurrent release.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description of preferred embodiments given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
The protective module 1 shown in
A special panel 6 for operating the tripping magnets is located on a front control panel 5 of the protective module 1 which is shown separately in
The magnet assembly shown in
If required, the display and reset elements of more than two tripping magnets 4 can also be arranged in the display panel 6. If, as indicated in
Exemplary embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201 09 898.9 | Jun 2001 | DE | national |
This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/DE02/02082 which has an International filing date of Jun. 4, 2002, which designated the United States of America and which claims priority on German Patent Application number DE 201 09 898.9 filed Jun. 13, 2001, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/DE02/02082 | 6/4/2002 | WO | 7/2/2004 |